"Qal Infinitive Construct in Context" — Ch20 Passage Exercise

Chapter 20 — Qal Infinitive Construct

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This passage exercise presents 15 highlighted IC forms drawn from nine OT passages spanning Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Ecclesiastes, and Psalms. Passages were selected to represent the full range of IC functions: the quotative formula לֵאמֹר (Gen 2:16), לְ-purpose clauses (Gen 11:5; 19:22; 37:18; 45:4–5), כְּ-temporal clauses (Gen 39:18–19), לְ-epexegetical after עֵת (Ecc 3:1–2), and the I-י IC form in a temporal-epexegetical context (Exo 19:1). Two Hiphil IC forms (Exo 3:8) are included to introduce the Hiphil IC pattern alongside Qal. Students identify root, root class, preposition, and function for each form.

Sample Questions

Q1. 1 לֵאמֹ֑ר

A: אמר I-aleph לְ Quotative — "saying"; tsere under ל (ל + hateph-seghol = tsere); introduces direct speech; ~2,600× OT

Q2. 2 לִרְאֹ֥ת

A: ראה III-ה לְ Purpose — "to see"; holem-taw spelling; לִ + IC marks purpose of God's descent to Babel

Q3. 3 לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת

A: עשה III-ה + I-gutt. לְ Complementary — "to do"; completes יכל ("able to"); chateph-patach under ע; וֹת ending